|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Just days before Mother’s Day, Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer introduced the More Opportunities for Moms to Succeed Act. The legislation is designed to provide support for mothers during the difficult phases of pregnancy, whether prenatal or postpartum and improve access to resources.
The MOMS Act would establish Pregnancy.gov, a federal clearinghouse of resources related to pregnancy to benefit expecting mothers. Health and Human Services would include a national list of private child placement services and a list of federal funding opportunities for non-profits and healthcare facilities focused on pregnancy support.
Concerns have been raised about creating an online database of pregnant women and the safety issues that could follow. Users have the option to consent to sharing their contact information. If they consent, they could be contacted with a follow-up call or email detailing additional resources to consider.
One form of pregnancy support services that has been explicitly barred from the site is abortion clinics. A provision has been put in place for any non-profit entities seeking grants from the Pregnancy.gov grant program should be dedicated to supporting mothers and encouraging them to carry to term. Potential grantees are also forbidden from inducing or counseling in favor of abortions
Another grant program would be established to assist rural and medically underserved areas with purchasing equipment for prenatal and postpartum telehealth appointments. 55 of the 67 counties in Alabama are considered rural.
The final provision coins the Unborn Child Support Act, requiring states to apply obligatory child support payments to the pregnancy duration. These payments could also be applied retroactively based on a court order and existing state requirements, such as proof of parenthood, would be applicable.
The MOMS Act has been endorsed by a myriad of pro-life foundations like Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Americans United for Life, March for Life Action, the National Right to Life Committee, and the Family Policy Alliance.
